Overview
The Olympus FE-370 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens. It is a smaller camera without being truly ultra compact. It scores well for ease of use and has image stabilisation.
Why Buy The Olympus FE-370
In a nutshell the FE-370 is a snapshot camera with a bit of extra zoom. It compares well against other similar cameras and offers good value for money.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
5x
2.7 inches
94.7 x 56.7 x 25.3 mm
128g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
3cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
xD Micro SD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
I think this is a good start. The FE-370 is not the most expensive pocket camera out there, but it produces a bright shot with well balanced colours. Sharpness is good too with only a relatively small amount of crispness lost as you hit the edges of the shot. Detail lost to the inevitable sun glare at this time of year is in line with my expectations.
With the lens zoomed all the way out to its widest angle the FE-370 makes another fair effort. Parts of this scene are very distant, but for the most part the amount of detail is good. As long as your expectations are not too high you should be able to take some pleasing landscape snapshots.
This is another solid effort. Focusing slides a little on the right hand side of the shot as the scene becomes more distant, but this stays well within acceptable bounds. This is another photo where I like the colours and brightness of the shot.
My final outdoor test confirms that the FE-370 is one of the better cameras in its class when it comes to sharpness. I would give the camera 8 out of 10 for focusing.
Portraits
There is plenty of colour in this shot. The overall impression is quite pleasing. This is another example where focusing is good, with face detection being used to increase sharpness around the eyes, nose and mouth.
Olympus digital cameras have a tendency to create greater shadows that any other brand of camera I test. Therefore a bit of extra care can be needed when lining up your shot. .This photo is very well lit and the lighting is also well balanced across the photo.
This photo was taken with window light and the flash was not used. Again I like the colours and there is a natural feel to them.
Macro, Colours and Noise
If you are looking to take great macro shots then I would suggest a more expensive camera. The FE-370 does well enough though and if you are after a camera that can handle the occasional close up snapshot then this one should be able to cope.
I have been impressed with the colours throughout all my tests. In many cases they have a natural look to them.
My higher ISO test shots are inline with expectations. Noise shows in the darker areas before you reach ISO 400. At 1600 a lot of the picture quality has gone.
Summary
The FE-370 does more or less exactly what it sets out to do. It handles most photo opportunities and ranks well when compared to other cameras with a similar specification and price tag.
Style
This camera has a simple design. To be honest it is quite plain, but then it is rare to find super stylish cameras in this price range. It will squeeze into a large pocket.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.33 seconds
9.83 seconds
0.43 seconds
11.82 seconds
3.83 seconds
Ease of Use
You should not have many problems finding your way around the menu system.
Points I Like
Ease of use - picture quality compared to other cameras in its class.
Where it Could Improve
Not a great deal
Verdict
I have few complaints about the Olympus FE-370. If you are looking for a reasonably priced, compact digital camera this one is well worth considering.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Panasonic DMC FS18 Rating 84/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FS18 is a great little camera. If you are looking for a reasonably priced, pocket sized camera that can take a good quality snapshot then this is one of the best cameras around. In terms of value for money this camera is hard to beat. Recommended.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC FS18 Review
Canon Powershot A1200 Rating 84/100
The Canon Powershot A1200 is a straightforward, inexpensive digital camera. It takes a very good snapshot and offers fantastic value for money. It is one of the few digital cameras to offer a viewfinder. It has 12 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom lens.
Read Review: Canon Powershot A1200 Review
Panasonic DMC S3 Rating 84/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC S3 is an excellent value for money pocket camera. It is very hard to beat when compared alongside its direct rivals. Picture quality and features have an edge over many of its competitors while the rapid response times are also a big plus point. If you are looking for a cheaper compact digital camera then you can’t go far wrong with the Lumix DMC S3.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC S3 Review
Related Pages
Olympus FE-370 Review Olympus FE-370 Specification Olympus FE-370 Sample Images Olympus FE-370 Features
Review Date
November 2008
